When Walls Crumble

Chapter 41: Star-Crossed Lovers

Plagg hovered next to Tikki and watched Adrian pick up Marinette.  Tikki was quietly sighing at the cliche cuteness of the moment.  Then Adrian kissed her.

"Well, that was sudden," Plagg whispered.  Tikki suppressed a giggle.  

"No, it isn't!"

"He has kissed her twice now.  There was no foundation for that except a high school crush and an Akuma messing with his perception of the truth.  And that was ages ago.  Why's he suddenly blushing around her again?"

Tikki sighed.  "In case you haven't noticed, she was too."

"Then both of them just suddenly fell back into infatuation.  This can't be good."

Tikki swatted his arm.  "Silly, Plagg.  This is the best transition to romance I've ever seen across all the centuries!  The high school crushes are completely irrelevant.  These two have been best friends for years now.  It just required a little spark to turn into something more."

Plagg raised an eyebrow.  "What was that spark and where can I get one?"

Tikki giggled.  "The Pyra incident, obviously!  He sacrificed himself so she didn't have to make an impossible choice.  Then he died!"

Plagg's eyes widened.  "Um...that wasn't a good thing, Tikki."

"At the time, no.  But what he did for her...that was some true Agape, self-sacrificial love.  The truest and most everlasting kind.  Then she brought him back."

"Yeah, I know.  I was there too.  And his death really hurt.  I'd rather not remember it."

Tikki rolled her eyes.  "For the embodiment of destruction, you're a wimp.  My point is that that was the turning point.  That was when they started truly seeing each other as much more than good friends.  And what Adrian did for her today with Little Luka?  I cried!"

Plagg sighed.  "Of course you did," he muttered.  "Females..."

Tikki elected to ignore his last comment.  "Plagg," she said softly, taking his hand.  "Our spark was centuries ago.  And you know exactly what it was.  But you know the rules.  It's too dangerous."

"You two are adorable star-crossed lovers."

The kwamis didn't realize that Adrian was still listening.  Plagg groaned.  "I have heard plenty of stupid things from you but that takes the cake."

Tikki laughed.  "I'm sure you're used to ignoring him by now."

Adrian nodded.  "But I'm afraid what you two said earlier has me thinking about something a bit terrifying."

Tikki zoomed closer.  "What is it?"  Her maternal eyes were filled with worry.

"Lila.  We've been putting out the fires one by one.  But we really need to stop the source."

Plagg nodded, relieved by the subject change.  "That's a tough nut to crack.  Lila's a wily one."

"We need to start planning," Adrian said.

Tikki shook her head.  "You need sleep and you need Marinette when you discuss this.  We'll talk about it tomorrow while Luka's in school.  You can stay here for the night.  I need to talk to Plagg."

Adrian's head barely hit the sofa pillow when he fell asleep.